shelterworks
Summer
2015
News from the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter
Martha’s
Musings
Success Story
“We are each other’s harvest, we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” --Gwendolyn Brooks
A single man entered shelter because he had ended a relationship. He did not have a photo ID and was unable to apply for one without a birth certificate. This hindered him looking for a job. With the help of case management he was able to get a certified copy from the county where he was born. Once his birth certificate arrived, he was able to seek employment. He became gainfully employed and began to save money while in shelter. He knew the importance of saving money in order to get ahead. A referral was made to rapid rehousing to see if he could qualify for some financial assistance for housing. He was able to qualify for financial assistance through rapid rehousing and was notified that he had been authorized to look for housing. You could see the excitement on his face. Then he was faced with two obstacles: an electric bill which he discovered had not been taken out of his name and a seventeen-year-old mistake he made as a juvenile. He became discouraged and worried about both of them. It was difficult for him. The look on his face was one of disgust. He was encouraged to contact the utility company to see if they would be willing to work with him to resolve the old bill. They were willing, and he made arrangements to pay it off. He talked about the mistake he had made as a juvenile; however, he had not
made that mistake again. Each time he thought he was moving forward, something got in his way of progress. He was concerned about finding a place to live so that his two young children could stay with him on the weekends. Through collaboration with Waypoint Services, he was able find a landlord who was willing to work with him. When he moved into his place he was excited about seeing his children on the weekends. Five months later, he has remained employed and housed in the same location. His two young children are now able to visit him on a regular basis. He is enjoying his place and stays in touch to let us know how he is doing and if he has any questions about other resources. He was able to obtain household items through the kindness of other organizations and persons who work collaboratively with Willis Dady. When clients succeed, we succeed and our community is a part of that success. And when clients are able to move forward and recognize their own potential, we have together created a healthy environment for the children. Special thanks to Day of Caring crews from Alliant Energy and Holmes Murphy & Associates
Dady Doings
4th Annual Run for Shelter 5K
8:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22. Check our website after June 1 for registration information.
Veterans Five Season Stand Down
Friday, September 4, Veterans Memorial Stadium
Willis Dady Emergency Shelter Board of Directors James Locke, Treasurer Melissa Cullum Dave McInally Sam Jones, President Jason Vestweber, Vice President Sam Bergus Rebecca Jacobs Abhay Nadipuram Janet Slimak Charisma Wickham, Secretary Tim Carson Jill Kasparie
Phoebe Trepp, Executive Director
to homelessness, and I am dedicated to the mission and vision of this organization.
I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of Willis Dady Emergency Shelter as our previous Director Tim Wilson has moved to the Des Moines area with his family. Though Tim’s departure is certainly a loss to Willis Dady and the Linn County community, the important work and vision of Willis Dady to empower clients to break the cycle of homelessness and become self-sufficient remains the primary focus of the staff and board.
Prior to starting as the Executive Director at Willis Dady, I served as the Program Development Director for Shelter House Community Shelter and Transitional Services in Iowa City. In my role at Shelter House I worked to develop several new programs that served people experiencing homelessness. I helped open the Fairweather Lodge program, which is a permanent supported peer-support housing model for adults with chronic mental illness – the first of its kind in the state of Iowa. I also helped launch Fresh Starts, a professional janitorial service that employs people experiencing homelessness to clean office buildings in the Johnson County area. Another component of my work focused on volunteer programing (specifically with skilled nursing and dental volunteers), and developing an AmeriCorps VISTA site that enabled us to focus on program development and capacity building within the shelter. I have been very fortunate to work with many community partners to build new programs that address some of the root causes of homelessness, such as lack of employment, lack of safe housing, and access to mental and physical health care. I come to Willis Dady with a strong commitment to finding long-term solutions
Over the past several weeks I have had the pleasure of visiting with Tim, the Willis Dady staff, Board of Directors, clients, and many of Willis Dady’s community partners. In this brief time I have seen the strong dedication and work ethic of the staff and board, as well as the collaborative and supportive nature of other community agencies. These are true assets to Willis Dady, as the people and agencies I have interacted with share a community-wide vision of breaking the cycle of homelessness for the men and families we serve. We have a particularly strong set of services to prevent homelessness and to assist veterans who are experiencing homelessness. These are services we can continue to develop and make available to more people in need. I am excited to learn more about the short and long-term needs of the clients we serve, and I know there is much work to be done. I see great potential for the future of Willis Dady and our ability to make a lasting impact on the quality of life for our clients and our community at large. I am eager to meet more of Willis Dady’s partners and supporters, and I welcome your questions, thoughts, and input into the needs of our clients and community. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me in the coming weeks and months as I continue to learn about our past and as we plan for our shared future. - Phoebe Trepp
WDES is proud to be a Community Partner of the United Way of East Central Iowa.
Give to wdeS
How Can I Help?
OVERNIGHT VOLUNTEER
We still have many openings for overnight volunteers this summer. If you can help, please contact Joseph at 319 362-7555 ext. 106 or services@willisdady.org.
Financial Support
Help Now To contribute to shelter operations and services:
Online 1. Go to http://willisdady.org/ 2. Click on “How to Help” 3. Click on the box near the bottom labeled “Donate Now through Network for Good” 4. Enter your donation and credit card number U.S. Mail 1. Return the envelope included in this mailing with your contribution
Invest In Our Future To help ensure that shelter and services continue into the future, make a donation to our Endowment at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Online 1. Go to https://gcrcf.org. 2. Move cursor to “Donors” option near top of page 3. Click on “Giving Opportunities” 4. Click on “Search Giving Opportunities” 5. Scroll down to “Willis Dady Emergency Shelter” on alphabetical list and click on “Action” at far right Phone 1. 319 366-2862
Volunteer at Willis Dady
Willis Dady is always in need of volunteers for all kinds of tasks. Please contact Joseph to let us know about your talents and interests at 319 362-7555 ext. 106 or services@ willisdady.org.
Our Sunday Table Program
Willis Dady is looking for groups to prepare a Sunday lunch for approximately 25 people and bring it to the shelter; we provide tableware and the mouths to feed. Volunteers, clients and staff enjoy the meal and conversation. All help clean up. There are still 2015 dates available including July 26, August 9 and 30 and September 27. Please contact Joseph for details at 319 362-7555 ext. 106 or services@willisdady.org
Donate Items to Help the Shelter & Those We Serve
WDES has made arrangements with Stuff, Etc. to accept items on behalf of the shelter. Proceeds from sold items will be applied to our account. When dropping off at Stuff, Etc., 252 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE C.R. Please use account number 13519. WDES has an agreement with Goodwill of the Heartland so that our clients can receive vouchers good at any local Goodwill retail stores for clothing and shoes. Please support Goodwill of the Heartland by donating acceptable items (goodwillheartland.orgdonors/acceptable-donations) at any of their drop off locations: goodwillheartland.org/locations.
Thank
Special thanks to some of those who have recently given donations or awarded grants
Adcraft Printing Community of Christ Farmers State Bank Community Circle of Care Iowa Finance Authority Lovely Lane United Methodist Church Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 49 Cedar Rapids, IA
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Board Memeber
Abhay joined Willis Dady’s Board of Directors earlier this year and has been fully engaged since that time. As co-chair of this summer’s upcoming Run for Shelter 5K, he has been involved in both planning the logistics and securing sponsorships. Abhay received a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College where he served as student body president and a JD from the University of Iowa. He volunteers at Willis Dady because as he says, “I appreciate Willis Dady’s focused and efficient method in helping those who want to be contributing members of society but have had some bad luck.” Abhay’s other volunteer activities include membership in Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and Chorale Midwest.
Abhay Nadipuram